Grandparents Rights in Child Custody Cases

Grandparents will usually play an important role in the upbringing of a child. They are often on the bench at soccer games; they often give the best gifts on birthdays; and they are often the first people the parents will call when they need a cheap babysitter for the night.

Grandparents Rights after Divorce

In most instances, a grandparent will have the right to see her grandchild during their own child’s visit. What this means is that the maternal grandmother will be able to visit with her grandchild when she is with her mother. The paternal grandmother will be able to visit with her grandchild when she is with her father. It does not matter how the child custody is split or how the parenting time is measured.

However, there are certain instances where this is not the case. If, for example, the father is deceased, then the paternal grandparents may have a separate legal right to visit their own grandchild. This may also be the case if the parent of the child is a minor.

Court Interference in Grandparents Rights

While most parents are happy to ask for help and allow grandma and grandpa to play a role in their children’s lives, some parents are not so thrilled to give up their children to their ex-parents-in-laws. In these messy situations, one of the parents may forbid the grandparents from making contact with their grandchild. This is usually out of spite or anger. Furthermore, it might be in the best interest of the child to be awarded visitation with his grandparents despite what the parent’s believe. The state of Minnesota will award grandparent visitation rights in certain interests as long as it can be proven that the visits are in the best interest of the child.

Contact Schneider, Baudler & Abbott PC

If you are facing a divorce or child custody battle or if you need legal advice on any child support matter, it is important to speak to a qualified family law attorney right away. The sooner you make the call, the quicker our lawyers can get to work on your case and the better for everyone involved, especially the children. Contact Schneider, Baudler & Abbott PC today at 763-315-1100 or by e-mail to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced divorce lawyers.

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on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 4:52 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
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